Wednesday, December 19. 2012

First off, congrats on another epic part, Waded. I’ve been watching that shit everyday.
Thanks, Ben! Wouldn't say it's epic by any means, but I really appreciate that my man. Means a lot.

How long did you guys film for this video?
We filmed for about 5 years total, but there were a lot of things that happened during those years that kept pushing the video back.

What was the first thing you filmed that made it in the part? What is the last thing you filmed?
The first clip I filmed that is actually in my part is probably the switch back bigspin down that double set in SD. The most recent clip is either the kick backsmith down some rail or the switch inward heel over the table.

Overall, are you happy how the video turned out?
Dude, I'm so psyched on the finished product. It was kind of risky with all the skits and the money Kayo invested in it, but when I finally saw it I was blown away. Definitely a blessing to be apart of and will have the memories of filming it forever. So proud of my teammates.

No doubt. Who has your favorite part in the video? Is there a trick that stands out as your favorite?
Marcus. For sure. I've always loved the way he skates and to see him come through with a banger of a part with that OG style I grew up watching is something else. I don't think there's just one stand out trick for me in the vid, and most of them wouldn't even be considered hammers or anything like that. Just the way someone skates and did a trick is more important to me then what he did. I'd be here forever if I had to list them. Watch Marcus or Keelan's part and you should understand.

Hardflip, Photo: Dan Z

How about in your part, which trick were you the most hyped to get?
The switch inward heel off the bump. I can't do that trick. Came out of nowhere.

Shit was amazing. What Jordan’s are you wearing in the line with the front crook front 180?
Jordan 3 Retros. Best skate shoe on the market (laughs).

Let’s talk about a couple tricks in particular. Where’s the hardflip over the rail? Take us through the process of getting it.
That's at a school somewhere in SF. Marquise and I were on a trip up there with our TM/Filmer Brad Rosado. We just wanted a spot we could both skate and heard you could skate it after school hours. We called Dan Z, got directions and met up with him at the school where there was a graduation going on. Luckily, they didn't mind us being there so Quise and I started skating it. The tricks themselves didn't take that long, but the hardest part was that the run up is super narrow and you can't get much angle to go over the rail. Quise got an ill switch front shuv over it, which turned into a double page Diamond ad and I got the hardflip which went in my part. Photo turned up somewhere, I think?

It was a spread in SBC. I don’t remember seeing a kickflip front 5-0 back 180 before. What’s the thought process for you with tricks like that? I mean, a lot of the tricks you do are very rare. How do you come up with them?
I don't know man to be honest with you. I like doing tricks that are kind of awkward, but could look tight if done right. I don't really sleep at night, which basically leaves me thinking about ledge or rail tricks that I've never seen that could be dope. Honestly, I used to have pages of tricks I had written down that I've never seen people do and still haven't. Now I don't know if I'm the one that should be doing them, but if ever the opportunity presents itself that a spot could work for one of these tricks, I'm definitely gonna sit there and give it a solid go. The kick front 5-0 revert is just one of those tricks I've never seen anyone do, which I'm sure a million people have done, but I thought could look cool in a line and the opportunity was there. Looking at it now, it looks kind of whatever, but I hope someone liked it.

Switch Inward Heel, Photo: Seu Trinh

I did. What about the switch inward heel over the picnic table? How did you end up trying that?
That day was gnarly. Once again, I was there with Quise, Brad and Seu Trinh was shooting photos. It was so crazy. All the baker/deathwish boys were there, which was dope. Garrett and Gantry Hill were there. It was just a super fun session. We were originally skating the bump to table so you could slide or grind it. Quise almost got the banger of life, which I won't say cuz he's gonna go back and get it for sure. But after about two hours of everyone skating it I had a little stress session and was pretty much over it. We were all sitting there, I was pissed just thinking how I've always loved the way the bump to table looked ever since I saw Lucas Puig's switch front heel over it. So, I forced myself to turn the table, ollied it and started brainstorming tricks. I don't know where I came up with the switch inward heel, but I threw a couple out and it seemed like it could work. Told the boys I wanted to try it and as they were setting up Koston rolls up with his filmer and started warming up. He started trying the gnarliest trick on this other table as I started trying mine. In between tries, we would be in the same starting area pumping each other up and somehow within 30 minutes or so I had landed it 3 times. I'm still surprised I did it.

When did you film the switch smith kickflip. What was the process for that one?
I couldn't even tell you when that was. Feels like forever ago, at least two years ago I'd say. That was one of those things I knew I wanted to do before I even got there. Around that time, maybe a couple months before hand, I was in Toronto a lot staying at Koty's house. He lived a few blocks away from this indoor park called the Loft, which is a private park that a bunch of homeys rent out and have keys for. Kodes had a key and we would go there every night around midnight and skate till 4-5 in the morning. Just one of those times where I had the perfect ledge and perfect atmosphere to learn one of those tricks I've always thought of. A couple months later I was in Cali staying at Brad’s, called Daughters to go shoot and we missioned out there to skate it. Not even gonna lie, that shit was lucky as fuck. I battled it for probably an hour, maybe more and the one I rode away from I don't remember a thing about it. (Laughs) Just was stoked it was usable.

You have a few things in your part from Montreal, including a Peace Park line. What brought you to MTL. What do you like about skating in MTL?
Montreal is so tight. I would watch my footy and it seemed super bland cause it was mostly all Cali footy. Being from the east coast and traveling to MTL a bunch when I was younger, I have a lot of friends out there and always loved the way the city looked on film. It has such a good texture on camera, everything looks gritty and rugged. So the opportunity came up where I could travel there in the summer time, stay at the good homeys house and have one of Canada's best filmers Eric Lebeau actually take time off work to film. Thanks Lebeau! It was a blast and one of the best times of this year for sure. Everybody in the MTL skate community knows each other and is super cool. It's almost on that New York level where you put on your backpack, leave the house and cruise around the city skating and not come back until midnight. MTL has one of the best vibes in the Canadian skateboard scene hands down. Shootout to the Parc Laf boys!

You also have a bunch of Barcelona footage from team trips there. What do you like about skating there? What’s it like to travel with the team?
Well, I was only there twice over the course of filming for the vid. Both times I was out there with Stevie and Brad, and the other time Marcus was also there. Barcelona is a trip if you've never been there. The skate scene out there is huge and everyone is super friendly and helpful. On top of that, the spots are second to none and you don't get kicked out really. Basically the best place for a skater to be. I always have the best time out there and hopefully I can get back there sometime soon.

Back 180 Nosegrind To Straight, Photo: Karpinski

What’s next?
Man, I'm taking this time off over the holidays to rest my body. Once the New Year hits I'm flying somewhere and gonna start working on a new part. I'm gonna drop a new part in 2013. That's one thing this video gave me that I am so thankful for. It made me so motivated to skate. I just want to keep making video parts as long as I can, as good as I can. Hopefully along the way I can get an interview or two and maybe work on something at the Berrics. Who knows really, but at the end of the day I'll be skating and having fun with my friends.
Word. Thanks, Wade.
Thank you, Ben! You're the fuckin man. Gonna come visit you in NYC, too!

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